Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing - July 29, 2021

ANKARA (AA) - Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments in Turkey, around the world and the coronavirus pandemic.

- Developments in Turkey, coronavirus pandemic and other news

Turkey has administered more than 69.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched a mass vaccination campaign in January, according to figures released Wednesday.

The ministry also confirmed 22,291 new infections and 76 coronavirus-related deaths over the past day, while as many as 4,197 more patients recovered.

Turkey lit the first gas flare in the Sakarya Gas Field located in the Black Sea during a ceremony Wednesday.

"Today, for the first time, we will burn off the Black Sea gas that we discovered and started to extract from hundreds of meters underground," said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addressing a virtual ceremony to mark the occasion.

"With the introduction of Black Sea gas in the near future, we will significantly reduce our dependence on foreign sources," Erdogan said.

Meanwhile, a total of 231 irregular migrants were held in Turkey’s western province of Canakkale on Wednesday, according to officials.

The Turkish Coast Guard said in a statement on its website that its teams took action when they detected irregular migrants off the coast of Ezine District in Canakkale as they were transported to a fishing boat with rubber boats.

- COVID-19

France will implement a controversial health pass measure in social places starting the second week of August, officials said Wednesday.

The new law on the health crisis, including compulsory vaccination for health care professionals and isolation for coronavirus patients along with an extension of the health pass for entry into public and social places like restaurants, cafes and long-distance transport will take effect Aug. 9, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said at a news conference.

Jordan, Morocco, Algeria and Libya announced more coronavirus cases and deaths Wednesday as they continued efforts to contain the disease.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe warned Wednesday that the nation is at the beginning of a fourth coronavirus wave, citing increased infections.

Kagwe told county governments to ensure that they have sufficient intensive care unit (ICU) beds and oxygen to deal with the new cases.

New York City will pay $100 to anyone who gets the coronavirus vaccine there, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday.

The new incentive will take effect on Friday, the mayor announced at a news conference.

Pfizer announced on Wednesday that a third dose of its coronavirus vaccine “strongly” boosts immunity against the Delta variant.

The US pharmaceutical company made the announcement in presentation slides it posted to its website ahead of an investor call to report second quarter profits.

Tanzania’s president took a shot publicly on Wednesday to finally launch a rollout in a country among the world's last to accept COVID-19 vaccines.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, along with Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and other top officials, was administered the Johnson & Johnson jab live on television as Tanzania kicked off a campaign that aims to eventually vaccinate at least 60% of its population.

Russia, for the first time since the beginning of July, has registered fewer than 23,000 daily coronavirus cases Wednesday.

According to the country's coronavirus emergency task force, 22,420 people contracted the virus over the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 6.19 million and active infections to 491,525.

- Developments across the world

A former senior Daesh/ISIS member of Moroccan nationality was arrested in Greece, local media reported Wednesday.

“Greek security services on Tuesday arrested a 28-year-old Moroccan national who had held senior positions in the operational squads of the Islamic State terrorist organization in Syria,” Moroccan news agency MAP reported.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio voiced concern Wednesday over the situation in Tunisia during a phone call with his Tunisian counterpart Othman Jerandi.

“Concern for the situation in the country, call for respect of the Constitution and the rule of law,” the Italian Foreign Ministry wrote on Twitter.

US and Russian officials began a bilateral strategic stability dialogue on arms control in Geneva on Wednesday and will meet again at the end of September for fuller talks.

"The discussions in Geneva were professional and substantive," said the US in a statement released by its mission to the UN in Geneva after talks ended.